Yonsei Med J.  2004 Oct;45(5):947-951. 10.3349/ymj.2004.45.5.947.

Congenital Absence of Inferior Vena Cava as a Rare Cause of Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, Gyeonggido, Korea. minny@nhimc.or.kr
  • 3Department of Radiology, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, Gyeonggido, Korea.

Abstract

Interruption of the inferior vena cava IVC) with azygos continuation is an uncommon vascular anomaly that results from aberrant development during embryogenesis. We report a rare case of this anomaly, presenting with massive pulmonary embolism. Subsequent evaluation with abdominal CT scan revealed the congenital absence of retrohepatic IVC. The patient was successfully treated with anticoagulation. When deep venous thrombosis (DVT) develops in patients with no apparent risk factors, the presence of congenital IVC anomalies should be considered.

Keyword

Vena cava abnormalities; deep venous thrombosis; pulmonary embolism

MeSH Terms

Adult
Humans
Male
Pulmonary Embolism/*etiology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vena Cava, Inferior/*abnormalities
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